26 October 2016 -- The Gambia commemorated World Mental Health Day with a series of complementary activities.  A week before the event, the National Mental Health Team - comprising the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mental Health Professionals, WHO Country Office (WCO) and advocacy groups – conducted a series of public sensitization programmes on the national radio and television as well as the private media on mental health situation in the country in general and on the theme “Psychological First Aid” (PFA), in particular.  This was followed by statements by the National Health Authorities and the World Health Organization Country Office delivered on the eve of the Day.

For his part, the WHO Representative, Dr Charles SAGOE-MOSES, delivered statement of the Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso MOETI, on national radio and television which was also translated into the local languages. Dr SAGOE-MOSES reiterated the importance of this year’s theme, noting that psychological first aid can significantly reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and foster short-and long-term adaptive functioning and coping.  He also re-echoed RD’s call for countries to avail themselves of the WHO’s manual on PFA which is intended to strengthen national capacity for preparedness and response to humanitarian crises.

Meanwhile, WCO shared this manual with the national health team and partners as part of activities marking the Day.

On the Day itself (10 October 2016), hundreds of youth, volunteers and mental health professionals and activists took part in a long march which ended at Tanka –Tanka Psychiatric Hospital situated outside the capital city, Banjul. Unlike previous years, the mental health team chose to observe this year’s event at Tanka-Tanka Hospital as a deliberate attempt to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses.  

By opening its doors to the public, the opportunity was created for patients, law and policy makers, care givers and the general public to interact positively through dancing, singing and chatting in an atmosphere of trust, happiness and hope, dispelling the erroneous belief that people with mental illnesses are aggressive and worthless.

Another important outcome of the event was the mobilization of law makers to serve as advocates for mental health in Parliament. Individuals, philanthropists, associations and institutions also donated different items in support of patients and care givers.

Meanwhile, it will be worth noting that the newly established National Mental Health Platform –No Health without Mental Health – by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the WCO has now become vital force in championing various aspects of mental health in the Gambia.

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For more details, please contact: Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer, gassamam [at] gm.afro.who.int—(+220)- 4462286 Mr. George. Williams, Health Information Assistant, williamsg [at] gm.afro.who.int—(+220) 4462284